TEAM MUNRO AND TEAM O CARSON ARE THE 2023-24 SCOTTISH CURLING JUNIOR CHAMPIONS
Many congratulations to Team Munro (Robyn Munro, Amy Mitchell, Holly Wilkie-Milne, Laura Watt) (Stranraer) and Team O Carson (Orrin Carson, Logan Carson, Archie Hyslop, Charlie Gibb) (Dumfries) who clinched the Scottish Curling Junior titles for season 2023-24.
Detailed, chronological info on all draws is available here.
WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Team Munro had to make it to the final the hard way following two defeats in the round robin, coming to table toppers Team Soutar (Callie Soutar, Eva Hare, Holly Clemie, Alison Hamilton) (Forfar) and Team Laurie (Tia Laurie, Hannah Farries, Holly Burke, Kirsty Gallacher, Robyn Mitchell) (Dumfries). Going into a crucial semi-final versus Team Laurie, things were open until the very end. While Team Laurie had the superior start, Team Munro fought back and with some excellent shots played on either side, nothing could separate the teams. Proceedings went into a tense extra end where Team Munro stole a decisive point to progress.
Previously, Team Soutar had kept their magnificent form going in the page play-off. Arguably already the sensation of the championship, the Forfar side had topped the ranking post round robin and had their sights set on a final appearance. A score of three in the second end of their page play-off fixture versus Team Laurie gave them a good advantage which they managed and added to with a couple of single steals. Eventually, their win never looked in any doubt with 8-2 the result.
Everything was set for a final showdown between the title defenders and the young shooting stars. Admitting that they felt they had done the hard work in the morning, Team Munro came out spirited in the afternoon’s final. While the game started off slowly with the sides trading singles, Team Munro got a five on the board in the third end and stole in the next three to create an advantage that they brought over the line. After the minimum amount of ends played, handshakes were exchanged with 10-2 the final score.
MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Team O Carson couldn’t have started their title defence off any stronger than they did. The Dumfries quartet remained unbeaten until their final round robin fixture versus Team Strawhorn (Jack Strawhorn, Hamish Gallacher, Kaleb Johnston, Rory Macnair) (Dumfries) and roared into the page play-off as first ranked. Up against Team R Craik (Ross Craik, Scott Hyslop, Jack Carrick, Struan Carson) (Forfar), Team O Carson looked untouchable, scoring multiples while forcing their opponents to singles. After eight ends and the scores on 11-4, handshakes were exchanged.
While Team O Carson could sit back and relax, Teams Strawhorn and R Craik fought it out for the remaining spot in the final. Team Strawhorn made the occasion count and roared to an advantage. If a stolen three points in End 4 weren’t enough to put them in the driving seat, a score of four in the sixth certainly was and they managed their advantage nicely for an 11-5 win.
A repeat of last season’s final between Teams O Carson and Strawhorn was served and it went right down to the wire and an extra end. The sides kept trading points and when a missed roll in End 10 meant Team Strawhorn took only a single rather than two points, proceedings went on for one more. Coming down with hammer, Team O Carson played a clinical game that saw them score the decisive point they needed to snatch victory.
